florist SHEAU YANN 9761 2539 | photography ANDY LIEW, J STUDIO | dining ware and home accessories IWANNAGOHOME! 6737 8858 and LANDEX 6288 7700 | text CHUI HUA
The old is the new future. Add a spin or two, and inject a contemporary reading into tradition. Please the elders and awe the guests with this elegant über oriental theme.
The Inspiration
Traditions, rituals, beliefs and culture; these are what link us together as families. But age-old practices do not need to be frumpy, musty and stuffy. The designer for this theme, Sheau Yann, shows you how to take the best of two worlds – old and contemporary – and weave a theme that is über oriental and über cool.
Creating the Theme
First, we keep to a modern minimalist mindset – no clutter, no excess. Next, pick some of the most symbolic elements from Chinese wedding traditions and present them in a contemporary setting.
In this case, red is the main colour, being the colour of good luck and an auspicious start. To keep it modern, we use black to complement and contrast with the bold red.
Only red flowers are needed in this theme. Here, carnations are used, which layers give the desired effect – bursts of strong red. Celosia, with its feathery plumes, adds variation to the arrangement’s texture. Place the flowers close together to form belts and clusters of red. You need lots of flowers, or risk having a corporate meeting atmosphere with all the black.
Red lacquer ware and other dining ware and accessories are sourced from iwannagohome! and Landex. These elegant pieces impart a sense of keeping traditions, yet staying up-to-date at the same time. Only red, black or clear pieces are used to prevent the theme from looking cluttered.
To soften the geometric edges of the furnishings and set-up, black and red ribbons are tied around chairs and vases.
The traditional Chinese character for double happiness looks at home in this modern set-up and stands out as a sure family-pleaser.
For favours, look to the past for inspiration. Traditional sweets and pastries such as peanut candy, crispy rice cakes and almond cookies make great favours.
Doing It Yourself: Ideas & Tips
If going oriental is your theme, we advise you to stick to strong colours of red and black. Shades of grey may do as well if you want some variation. For a brighter effect, consider using crystal accessories on the table. Clear glassware would be a good substitute if you are unable to find dining ware that fits the oriental theme.
Look through some books or talk to your elders to draw more inspiration from traditional wedding customs and practices. For example, traditional three-tiered lacquer baskets could be used in the presentation of favours or desserts. You may want to don a traditional cheongsam for the evening as well.
If you have the budget, get a jazz ensemble in to play old Shanghai favourites, complete with a singer. Otherwise, there are plenty of soundtracks and recordings out there that could belt out soulful croons of Chinese jazz.